Toy gun



E. HEILMAN June 14, 1955 TOY GUN Filed June 29, 1953 .aN/Awww .Wr l

TOY GUN Edmond Heilman, Selah, Wash.

Application June 29, 1953, Serial No. 364,748

l 3 Claims. (Cl. 124-14) My invention relates to a toy gun of the pop gun type.

An important object of the invention is to provide a toy gun which is safe for children, and adjustable so that the force with which the cork projectile is shot from the gun can be regulated over a considerable range.

Another object is to provide a toy gun having an operating bolt which is locked in a forward cocked position prior to pulling the trigger, so that there is no movable external part likely to strike the childs face, or the like, when the gun is tired.

A further object is to provide a spring operated gun of the above-mentioned character, wherein the tension of the spring may be regulated by a simple screw driver adjustment, without disassembling the gun.

A still further object is to provide a toy gun of the above-mentioned character which is simplified in construction sturdy and durable, reliable in operation, and relatively cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a side elevation of a toy gun embodying my invention, parts in vertical section,

Figure la is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the gun barrel and associated operating parts removed,

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section through the gun barrel removed with its associated elements, and showing operating parts in the retracted or cocked position,

Figure 3 is a similar section showing the position of the operating parts when the gun is fired,

Figure 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the rear portion of the gun barrel and operating parts,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical section through a forward portion of the gun barrel and plunger assembly contained therein, and,

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 6 6 of Figure la.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates generally a wooden gun stock of conventional shape, and provided in its top with a longitudinal groove or recess 11, for receiving a gun barrel 12. The gun barrel extends for the entire length of the recess 11, and forwardly of the stock 10 for a substantial distance, in the usual manner.

The stock 10 is provided near its forward end, with arecess or opening 13, leading into the bottom of the recess 11, and a reduced opening 14 leads from the bottom of a recess 13 to an enlarged recess 15, opening through the bottom of the stock, Figure l. The gun barrel 12 is provided near its longitudinal center with a depending internally screw threaded boss 16, rigidly secured thereto, and projecting into the recess 13. An

rates Patent upwardly directed screw 17 extends through the opening 14 and has screw threaded engagement within the boss 16, to rigidly secure the gun barrel to the stock 10. The head of the screw 17 is disposed within the recess 15, and above the bottom of the stock 10. The gun barrel 12 is thus held firmly seated within the longitudinal recess 11.

All of the operating mechanism or moving parts of the gun are bodily mounted upon the barrel 12, and thus readily removable with the barrel from the gun stock, when the screw 17 is removed.

The operating mechanism comprises a cylindrical bol 18, slidably mounted within the barrel 12, near its rear end, and having a generally L-shaped operating handle 19 rigidly secured thereto, and projecting beyond one side of the same, and downwardly, as best shown in Figure 6. The handle 19 extends slidably through a longitudinal slot 20 in the adjacent side of the barrel 12, and extending through the rear end of the barrel. The slot 20 has its forward end terminating between the rear end of the barrel and the boss 16, Figure l. The slot 20 is provided at its forward end, and Vin its lower edge with a locking notch 21, having an undercut` or inclined rear side 21', Figure la. The locking notch 21 receives the bolt handle 19, when the bolt is in the forwardmost position within the barrel, subsequent to cooking the gun.

A plunger rod 22, considerably smaller in diameter than the bolt 18 extends throughout a major portion of. the length of the barrel 12, and is slidable within the bore 23 of the bolt\ 18, the plunger rod extending forwardly and rearwardly of the bolt, as indicated.

Forwardly of the bolt 18, a block or plug 24 is iixedly secured within the barrel 12 by a screw 25, engaging within a small opening in the side of the gun barrel, and the head of this screw projects into a recess 26 in the bottom of the longitudinal groove 11, Figure 1, The plunger rod 22 is slidable through the bore 27 of the fixed block 24. A ixed collar or abutment element 28. is xedly secured to the plunger rod 22, a substantial distance forwardly of the block 24, and a compressible coil spring 29 surrounds the plunger rod, between'the l, block 24 and collar 28, and has its ends bearing against these elements.

A second coil spring 30, lighter and weaker than the spring 29 surrounds the plunger rod 22, between the bolt 18 and tixed block 24. This spring 30 serves to releasably hold the bolt handle 19 locked within the,

within the gun barrel 12, near and inwardly of its forward end, and this stop block has an opening or borev 31', .slidably receiving the plunger rod 22. The stop block 30 1s adapted to be engaged by the collar 28, tolmit i the forward movement of the plunger rod 22, when the gun is tired.

At its forward end, the plunger rod 22 has a screw threaded opening 31, receiving a screw 32. A plunger consisting of a pair of flat rigid washers 33, and a pairl of discs 34, of leather, fibrous material, or the like, is

mounted upon the screw 32, and clamped between its head 32 and the forward end of the plunger rod 22, see Figure 5. The discs 34 are clamped between the iiat washers 33, and preferably have a close sliding lit within the bore of the gun barrel 12.

The rear end portion 35 of the plunger rod 22 is screw threaded, as indicated, and an adjustable internally screw' threaded cylindrical nut or sleeve 36 has screw threaded4 engagement with the portion 35, rearwardly of the bolt 18. The rear of the barrel 12 is closed by a suitable' plug.37,. rigidly secured therein by screws 38 or the like, and having an opening or bore 39 to receive the rear end of the plunger rod 22 and permit longitudinal adjustmentof the plunger rod within the nut 36, in a manner to be described.

An L-shaped trigger is pivoted to the' bottom of the barrel 12, near its rear end, between a pair of depending lugs 41, rigidly secured to the gun barrel, as indicatedY at 42. The horizontal arm 43 of the trigger 4l! has an upwardly projecting cam latch head 44, extending through a small slot in the bottom of the gun barrel, so that the latch head 44 projects slightly into the gun barrel, Figure 4. The bolt 18 is provided in its lower side and rear end with a recess 46 receiving the latch head 44, as shown. An expansible coil spring 47 has one end engaging a spring keeper 48 on the rear side of the vertical arm of the trigger 40, and the top end of the spring 47 engages a keeper 4?, rigidly secured to the bottom of the gun barrel, just rearwardly of the lugs 41. The spring 47 constantly urges the L-shaped trigger head 44, when the same is engaged by the sleeve 36. The i slot 20, through which the bolt handle 19 operates, prevents the bolt 1S' from rotating appreciably, and the groove 46 is always aligned with the latch head 44.

In assembly, as shown in Figure l, the trigger 46, and

associated elements project into a vertical passageway 51, formed in the stock 10, and opening through the top and bottom of the stock, as shown. The passageway 51 is large enough to allow operation of the trigger 4), and the lower end of the trigger extends below the stock in the usual manner. A suitable trigger guard 52 is secured to the bottom of the stock with screws or the like, and serves the usual purpose.

In operation, the bolt 18 is retracted by means of the handle 19. until the locking sleeve 36 passes over the latch'head 44. When this occurs, the latch head enters the groove 46, Figure 4, and the shoulder engages the forward end of the sleeve 36 to lock the plunger rod 22 in the retracted or cocked position. shown in Figure 2. In this position, the spring 29 is compressed between the fixed block 24 and collar 28. The sleeve 36 now holds the plunger rod 22 retracted, since it has screw threaded engagement with the plunger rod. The spring 3i) is under no tension, while the bolt 18 is in the rearward position of Figure 4.

Prior'to pulling the trigger 41'?, the bolt 13 is shifted forwardly, until the bolt handle 19 engages the forward end of the slot' 20. The bolt handle is then engaged within the notch 21, and locked therein by the coil spring 30. which is now under compression between the forward end ofthe bolt' i8 and the block 24, Figures 2 and 3.

The gun is now fired by pulling the trigger 40, to disengage the shoulder 5t) from the locking sleeve 3-5. When this occurs, the spring 29 propels the plunger rod 22 forwardly within the barrel, to the position of Figure 3, wherein the collar 23 strikes the stop block 30', for limiting the forward travel of the plunger rod 22. At this time, a cork projectile or the like. which may be engaged in the forward end of the barrel is shot forwardly and out of the barrel by the air pressure created by the plunger assembly, including the discs 34. Thus, when the gun is red. and the plunger rod 22 shifts forwardly within the gun barrel, there is no forward movement of the bolt handle 19, because the bolt has previously been shifted forwardly before the trigger was pulled. This is a safety feature, which prevents the childs hand or face from being struck by a moving bolt handle.

To render the gun entirely safe for use by children, the tension of the spring 29 may be regulated by a simple screw driver adjustment. To do this, the screw 32 is removed, along with the plunger discs 34 and washers 33. The screw 32 is then reinserted into the opening 31, and the plunger rod 22 is turned with the screw driver from the muzzle end of the barrel, until a small opening 53, Figure 1a, in the side of the locking sleeve 36 becomes visible through the slot 210. VWhen this occurs, a nail or the like is inserted through the slot 20 and into the opening 53, to prevent rotation of the sleeve 36 relative to the gun barrel 12. Continedrotation of the plunger rod 22 with the screw driver causes the tension of the spring 29 to be increased or decreased, depending upon the direction in which the screw threaded plunger rod is turned relative to the sleeve 36. The spring 29 may thus have its tension increased or decreased over a considerable range. When the spring 29 has been adjusted, the plunger elements 34 and washers 33 are replaced, and the gun is ready for use. With this arrangement, the gun is adjustable to shoot the cork with considerable force and accuracy, or with a very slight force, so that small children using the gun will not be injured.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus4 described my invention, 1 claim:

l. A toy gun comprising a stock, a barrel secured to the stock and having alongitudinal slot, there being a notch formed in a side' of the slot and opening into the slot at its forward end, a pair of fixed abutments secured within the barrel in spaced relation and having openings, a plunger rod mounted within the barrel for reciprocation and extending slidably through the openings Of the fixed abutments and beyond the ends of the same, the rear end portion of the plunger rod being screw threaded, an element having screw threaded engagement with the rear end portion of the plunger rod and movable therewith longitudinally of the barrel, an element xedly secured to the plunger rod between said xed abutments and adapted to engage the abutment which is arranged forwardmost within the barrel, a spring surrounding the plunger rod between the last-named element and the rearmost abutment and urging the plunger rod forwardly within the barrel, a bolt slidable upon the plunger rod between the rearmost abutment and firstnamed element and having an operating part extending through said slot and' engageable within the notch, a spring surrounding the plunger rod between said bolt and rearmost abutment and compressed when the bolt is in a forwardmost position and serving to lock said operating part within said notch, and a trigger pivoted to the barrel and having a locking part engageable with the first-named element to hold the plunger rod retracted with the first-named spring compressed between the rearmost abutment and a Second-named element, the barrel and bolt having opening'means to receive the locking part of the trigger forwardly of the first-named element.

2. In a toy gun, a barrel, said barrel having a longitudinal slot formed therein with a locking notch at the forward end of the slot in one side of the slot, a pair of xed abutments secured within the barrel in spaced relation and having openings, a plunger rod mounted within the barrel for reciprocation and extending slidably through the openings of the xed abutments and beyond the ends of the same, an element carried by the rear end portion of the plunger rod and movable therewith longitudinally of the barrel, an element iixedly secured to the plunger rod between said fixed abutments and adapted to engage the abutment which is arranged forwardmost in the barrel, a spring surrounding the plunger rod between the last named element and the rearmost abutment and urging the plunger rod forwardly within the barrel, a bolt slidable upon the plunger rod between the rearmost abutment and first named elcment and having an operating part extending through said slot and engageable with the notch of the slot, a spring surrounding the plunger rod between said bolt and rearmost abutment and compressed when the bolt is in a forwardmost position and serving to lock thc operating part within said notch, and trigger means carried by the barrel and engageable with the first named element for holding the plunger rod retracted and the rst named spring compressed between the rearmost abutment and second named element.

3. In a toy gun, a barrel, forward and rear fixed abutments secured within the barrel in spaced relation and having openings, a plunger rod mounted Within the barrel for reciprocation and extending slidably through the openings of the fixed abutments and forwardly and rearwardly of the abutments, an element secured to the rear end portion of the plunger rod for movement therewith longitudinally of the barrel, a second element fxedly secured to the plunger rod between the forward and rear abutments and adapted to engage the forward abutment to limit the forward movement of the plunger rod relative to the barrel, a spring surrounding the plunger rod between the second element and rear abutment and urging the plunger rod forwardly, a bolt slidable upon the plunger rod between the rear abutment and the first named element and having an operating part exteriorly of the barrel, and trigger means carried by the barrel and engageable with the first named element to hold the plunger rod retracted with said spring compressed between the rear abutment and second element.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 446,711 Passage Feb. 1.7, 1891 1,473,507 Obermaier Nov. 6, 1923 2,548,984 Lennberg, Jr. Apr. 17, 1951 

